[THIS IS THE DAILY BRIEFING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ITS OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-REFORM PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROMOTING ITS PLAN. THIS ITEM WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME SUBJECT LINE (WITH DIFFERENT DATES) SO YOU CAN EASILY SKIP IT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ IT.] The White House Health Care Reform Today November 10, 1993 * Our national goal is health security -- every American guaranteed comprehensive health benefits that can never be taken away. The President has made clear he will sign only a bill that would guarantee universal coverage and comprehensive benefits. * There are many aspects of other proposals that we support because they reflect a commitment to the principles of the President's plan: security, savings, choice, simplicity, competition, quality, and responsibility. * The Cooper-Breaux plan, for example, encourages competition, by using market forces to control costs, promote efficiency, and reduce waste. And, we share its support for increased cost-consciousness. But, it does not guarantee universal coverage. The Gramm-McCain plan, for example, relies on consumers to make informed choices and it asks consumers to share responsibility for their health care costs. So does the President's plan. But Gramm-McCain does not guarantee universal coverage and in fact, encourages bare-bones packages and leaves insurance companies in the driver's seat, able to increase rates if you get sick or have a pre-existing condition. * We remain committed to a bipartisan solution -- this is about health security, not about politics. We want to work with Congressman Cooper and Sen. Breaux and with Sen. Chafee and Sen. Dole and with other members, Democrats and Republicans. We are committed to building a bipartisan consensus around health reform that will guarantee every American a comprehensive package of benefits that can never be taken away. * Senator Edward Kennedy took the HIAA to task yesterday over their airing of misleading health care television ads. He said: "You think you have to scare the American people to raise those kinds of concerns?" Pointing at charts showing nearly 40-million Americans without insurance, he said: "Those figures represent tears in the eyes of mothers...cancer patients who won't be able to get treatment because they've been excluded from coverage." * The AP reported yesterday that the HIAA says their misleading ads will be off the air by Thanksgiving.